Chemical and process for removing emulsions from waste water

Abstract

A process for removing an oil-in-water emulsion from waste water. The process consists of collecting the emulsion waste water, adding a precipitation reagent with trivalent cations, and adding a base compound to adjust the pH of the waste water. The adjusted waste water converts the dissolved trivalent cations to gelatinous cation hydroxide precipitations and separate the emulsion from the waste water. The process can be enhanced by also utilizing a filtration means to further separate the precipitation from the waste water. The process is designed to reduce the level of the emulsion from 1000 ppm to less than 1 ppm.

1 . A process for removing an oil-in-water emulsion from waste water that results from the production of a water-based product, said process comprising the following steps: 
 a) collect the emulsion waste water in a container,    b) add a quantity of a precipitation reagent with trivalent cations,    c) add a quantity of a base compound to adjust the pH of the waste water to approximately 6.5, which converts the trivalent cations to a gelatinous cation hydroxide precipitation and separates the emulsion from the waste water, and    d) separate the precipitation from the waste water by utilizing a filtration means.    
     
     
         2 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said emulsion is comprised of positively or negatively charged colloids, such as pharmaceutical drugs and dairy products.  
     
     
         3 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said quantity of a precipitation reagent is comprised of a trivalent compound.  
     
     
         4 . The process as specified in  claim 3  wherein said trivalent compound is comprised of potassium aluminum sulfate.  
     
     
         5 . The process as specified in  claim 3  wherein said trivalent compound is comprised of aluminum chloride.  
     
     
         6 . The process as specified in  claim 3  wherein said trivalent compound is comprised of ferric chloride.  
     
     
         7 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said base compound is comprised of sodium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         8 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said base compound is comprised of sodium carbonate.  
     
     
         9 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said base compound is comprised of ammonia.  
     
     
         10 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said base compound is comprised of sodium hydroxide.  
     
     
         11 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said filtration means is comprised of vacuum filtration.  
     
     
         12 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said filtration means is comprised of positive pressure filtration.  
     
     
         13 . The process as specified in  claim 1  wherein said filtration means is comprised of a centrifuge.